Youths the largest group to be affected by proposed public transport fare hike

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We, the Malaysian Youth & Students’ Democratic Movement (DEMA) are gravely concerned with the SPAD’s decision to increase the taxi and express bus fares by between 20& – 67%. We urge that the government to regain state control of the public transportation system, reduce public transport fares and to prevent the public transport services from becoming a rent-seeking tool for cronies to exploit the people.

The major problem plaguing our public transportation system is that of cronyism. Instead of being used to promote the right to freedom of movement for the people, especially those who cannot afford to have their own transport, the government by handing over the operation of the public transportation system to cronies has transformed what is supposed to be a public goods into a money-making business.

The government by colluding with the cronies has promoted a series of fare hikes without regulating the quality of the public transportation system. The youth has become the greatest victims of this failed governance. This is so especially when there exists uneven distribution of the national wealth in geographical terms, youths who are incapable of owning their own vehicle are forced to travel long distance by public transport for education and better working opportunities.

On the basis of the above reasons, we wish to express our dissatisfaction towards the fares hike sanctioned by the government and declare the following demands:-

1) The government must acknowledge that public transportation system is a public goods and shall reclaim the control over them without any delay. Cronies shall not be allowed to exploit the public transportation system as a profit-making tool against the rights of the people;

2) The government shall take positive steps in lowering the fares and offer free public transport during peak hours to encourage the more people to use public transport services. Low-income earners and youths should be given the relevant subsidies to ease their already high cost of living and to uphold their right to freedom of movement;

3) Students studying in higher education institutions away from home should be given transportation subsidies to alleviate their financial burden;

4) Active steps must be taken to regulate the quality of public transport services to encourage more users, reduce the number of private vehicles on the road as part of the sustainable development of this nation. The government should also tighten the control against operators of express bus service who may compromise the safety of the passengers (e.g. by requiring drivers to work overtime) in favour of profit maximisation.

We urge the government to accept the demands of the youths, failing which we will not remain silence but to fight against a pro-business government. The government and their cronies are reminded not to dig their own graves in the capitalist system as “the proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains; they have a world to win”.

公交回归公共 拒绝压榨人民

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针对陆路交通委员会(SPAD)调涨公共交通收费20%至67%,马来西亚青年与学生民主运动(DEMA,简称学运)呼吁,政府让公共交通公共化,降低公交收费,停止让公交成为朋党寻租的工具,继续压榨人民。

学运指,目前公交的问题是,将公交都交给朋党财团经营,不视公交为推动人民,尤其是无法负担私人交通者的行动权益。政府将公交交给朋党财团,让交通成为了政治寻租的工具,谋利成为了公交的唯一目的。

政府在这之中,与朋党财团共谋推动一系列的涨价行为,甚至对于公交素质的优劣,也没有进行管制,放任朋党压榨人民。如此的结果受害的,只有人民,尤其是还未踏出社会,或者刚刚踏出社会的青年,更是最大的受害者。

这是由于,青年的能力不足,难以自己拥有私人交通工具,搭公交成为了通勤的首选。而国家发展分布不均,更让青年被迫长途跋涉就学就业,这导致长途巴士这类交通工具成为异乡游子回家的交通工具。

学运对政府推动公交的涨价的决定表示不满,并提出以下四大诉求。

一、公交公共化,减少甚至停止让朋党财团经营公共交通,拒绝公交成为朋党寻租的工具;

二、政府必须介入压低公交价格,甚至在高峰时间免费乘搭,鼓励人民乘搭公交,尤其是低收入人士及青年更必须给予给大的补助,以保障本外人士的行动权益;

三、住在远地的大专生应该获得长途交通的补助,以便减轻大专生回乡的负担;

四、管制公交品质,推动更多人民乘搭公共交通,以便减少私人车辆的使用,减少废气排放,达致节能减碳的环保效益。政府也应该着手减少长途巴士的车祸率,让我国有更安全的公交体系。

最后,学运要求政府接受青年的诉求,否则社会将对这一系列亲商政策集结反扑,学运促请政府及朋党财团切勿成为资本主义体系中的“自掘坟墓者”,无产阶级失去的枷锁,得到的是全世界。

更多报道:

4大专生组织冀公共交通公共化

http://www.orientaldaily.com.my/index.php/nation/gn45345980

交通费涨不休‧住偏远地区大专生 学运:搭长巴应获补助

http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/608011

“別益了朋黨”‧4大學生組織促降公交費

http://news.sinchew.com.my/node/415312?tid=1

不满缅甸警方镇压学运 青年大专生组织抗议

2015年3月14日

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马来西亚的青年与大专生组织联合针对缅甸于本月10月的学运集会表示关注,并支持缅甸学运及民运份子针对国家教育法案(National Education Law)提出抗议,反对缅甸警方残暴的镇压行径。据悉,示威共造成127名示威者遭到逮捕,其中大多数是学生。

该声明对缅甸政府的残酷行径表示羞耻,指缅甸政府正在进行一场民主政治的转型,却使用国家暴力镇压学生们集结的和平集会。青年期盼缅甸政府尊重缅甸人民进行和平集会,并尽快释放及免除提告所有被捕的示威者。

此外,该声明也呼吁缅甸政府停止推动国家教育法案。声明认为所有生活在世界,乃至缅甸的人民都有自身的政治及公民权利,包括大学生及学术人员也享有同样的自由人权,不应该受到一份监控大学运作的法案所限制。因此,声明认为政府没有理由将大学特殊化,并进行严密的监控。大学本身就是一个自由和独立运行的单位,声明迫切要求缅甸政府制止所有打压人民,尤其是学生的行径。

缅甸政府作为有诚意推动民主转型的执政者,首先应该致力于从最小的单位,如大学等教育及学术机构,开始培养民主及基本的公民权利。连这一点都无法完成,这只会让国际世界质疑缅甸政府是否有能力及诚意推动切实的民主转型。

最后,该声明表达与缅甸大学生共同进退的决心,并期盼学生们尽快集结上街抗争。而马来西亚的大专生对缅甸学生的处境感同身受,并共同为学生的发声,社会的民主及学术自由而努力。青年与大专生对民主的期盼并不会因为国家的镇压而有丝毫的退缩和让步!

联署单位
1. Malaysian Youth and Students’ Democratic Movement (DEMA) 马来西亚青年与学生民主运动(学运)
2. Student Progressive Front Universiti Sains Malaysia (SPFUSM) 理大前进阵线
3. Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua Universiti Sains Malaysia 理科大学华文学会
4. Pro-Mahasiswa Universiti Sains Malaysia 理大亲学生阵线
5. Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya 马大学生会
6. University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY) 马大新青年
7. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju Universiti Putra Malaysia 博大前进阵线
8. Student Progressive Front Universiti Utara Malaysia 北大前进阵线
9. Transformasi Mahasiswa Universiti Utara Malaysia 北方大学转型学生组织
10. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Chinese Student Council 工艺大学华裔学生理事会(工华)
11. Pemuda Sosialis Parti Sosialis Malaysia 社会主义党青年团
12. Mahasiswa Keadilan Malaysia 公正党大专生组织
13. Lensa Anak Muda Malaysia (LENSA) 青年透镜组织
14. Anak Muda Harapan Malaysia (AMHM) 马来西亚希望青年
15. Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (GAMIS) 全国回教学生联盟
16. Serikat Mahasiswa

English version: https://demamalaysia.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/press-statement-on-the-police-crackdown-on-students-protest-in-myanmar/

中文版:https://demamalaysia.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/%E4%B8%8D%E6%BB%A1%E7%BC%85%E7%94%B8%E8%AD%A6%E6%96%B9%E9%95%87%E5%8E%8B%E5%AD%A6%E8%BF%90-%E9%9D%92%E5%B9%B4%E5%A4%A7%E4%B8%93%E7%94%9F%E7%BB%84%E7%BB%87%E6%8A%97%E8%AE%AE/